Dallas police are reporting an 11.7 percent drop in crime so far this year compared to last.

The reduction comes on top of eight previous years of falling crime after Dallas posted the nation's worst big city crime rate a decade ago.

Chief David Brown cited more officers and citizen involvement with police in a city hall briefing Tuesday.

"Our challenge is great," Brown said. "We’re encouraged but not satisfied. This is one where we’ve got a long ways to go. Many areas of Dallas feel a challenge of too-high crime, and we’re focused on those areas and others to continue to reduce crime."

The city has set a goal of becoming one of the nation's top five lowest crime rate cities, and it is not there yet.